Anatomy of the Pancreas & Duodenum

Pancreas

Head: area of pancreas to right of left border of superior mesenteric vein.

Body: area of pancreas between left border of superior mesenteric vein and left border of aorta.

Tail: area of pancreas between left border of aorta and hilum of spleen.

The most common site of primaries is the head of the pancreas. The pancreas has two functional components: endocrine, to produce insulin and other hormones, and exocrine, to produce pancreatic juices for digestion. The pancreas is in direct contact with the stomach, duodenum, spleen, and major vessels of the abdomen.

Head of pancreas

Uncinate process

Pancreatic notch

Body of pancreas

Anterior surface

Inferior surface

Superior margin

Anterior margin

Inferior margin

Omental tuber

Tail of pancreas

Duodenum

Key words

Duct of Wirsung: pancreatic duct opening into duodenum.

Insulin: hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates carbohydrate metabolism.